Hansard, 1987-03-26

NOMINATIONS TO SELECT COMMITTEES - (Announcement by Mr Speaker) I have to inform hon. Members that I have, under Standing Order No. 97, made the following nominations to Select Committees:-

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - WITHDRAWAL OF NEW ZEALAND FORCES asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (a) what are the reasons for the withdrawal of New Zealand forces from Singapore; and (b) what impact it will have on our defence capability.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - WITHDRAWAL OF NEW ZEALAND FORCES Sir, I am answering on behalf of the First Deputy Prime Minister. Sir, let me preface my answer with a short history of the contribution of the New Zealand Forces to the security of South East Asia in the past three decades. New Zealand Forces stationed in Singapore today comprise the First Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, the Headquarters of the New Zealand Forces in South East Asia and a small detachment of helicopters. Since 1955, 32 years ago, New Zealand Forces have been deployed in Malaysia, then Malaya, where they fought communist insurgents and later formed part of the Commonwealth Forces during the Indonesian Confrontation between 1964 and 1966. In 1969 the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, moved to Singapore. At a time when Singapore and Malaysia were newly independent and when the British announced their withdrawal, the continued stationing of New Zealand Forces was a significant show of support and an assuring gesture to countries in the region. It afforded these countries the lead time to develop economically and politically and to strengthen their own defence capabilities. Coming now to the question proper, New Zealand's intention to withdraw its forces from South East Asia is the result of the New Zealand Government defence policy review which recommended concentrating their defence forces and capabilities on New Zealand's immediate environment, in particular the South Pacific region. Moreover, the South East Asian countries today have not only successfully tackled the communist threat and confrontation but have gone on to develop their own defence capabilities. New Zealand's decision to withdraw its forces from Singapore was taken after mutual consultations between New Zealand and Singapore and the other parties of the Five Power Defence Arrangement. The Government of New Zealand has expressed its wish to remain an active member of the Five Power Defence Arrangement. It is also the intention of the New Zealand Government to continue its participation in joint exercises and to cooperate in existing and new areas of bilateral relationship within the framework of the Five Power Defence Arrangement.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - WITHDRAWAL OF NEW ZEALAND FORCES Sir, can I ask the Minister what impact the withdrawal of the New Zealand Forces will have on ASEAN military cooperation, especially cooperation with our neighbours.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - WITHDRAWAL OF NEW ZEALAND FORCES Sir, the cooperation between the Asean countries will continue.

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with the recent changes in the political leadership of Vietnam, whether (i) the possibility of the Cambodian issue being resolved has improved and (ii) tension in the region has ameliorated with a Vietnam that is focussing its attention on economic reforms.

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) Sir, the top three Politburo members of the Communist Party of Vietnam retired in December 1986, and in mid-February 1987 there was a ministerial reshuffle. Since the leadership changes, there has been no hard evidence of Vietnam's sincerity in wanting to resolve the Cambodian problem. It has merely repeated pledges to withdraw all Vietnamese troops from Cambodia by 1990 or earlier. Since these pledges of withdrawal are predicated on Vietnam achieving its hegemonistic objectives in Cambodia, they do not offer hope for a solution. Vietnam is not prepared to hold direct discussions with the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, the party directly affected by Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia. Whilst the leadership changes and the streamlining of several economic ministries point to a concentration on economic reconstruction of the country, the changes have also promoted several personalities who have been closely associated with the invasion and occupation of Cambodia. These changes do not augur well for any compromise on Cambodia. The recent spate of Vietnamese initiated moves to promote a dialogue on the Cambodian problem are clearly aimed at giving the misleading impression that there is some movement and a solution is in sight. Notwithstanding this, Vietnam's preoccupation with economic problems, its nervousness at the improvement in Sino-Soviet relations and its continued international isolation might well lead to a more realistic attitude on Cambodia. We will therefore have to wait for more concrete moves on Vietnam's part.

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) Sir, may I ask the Minister whether this change of leadership in Vietnam is in fact a change of tack that they have moved from a military expansion scheme to an economic expansion scheme where they can have a better hold on the surrounding countries and then by proxy the Soviet Union could expand its sphere of influence in this region.

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think that is the intention. The economy is in such a bad situation that it will require a lot of convincing for anybody to believe that Vietnam can project its power, its influence, as a result of being a strong economy. I think the primary aim of these changes is to mend the internal economy of Vietnam.

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) Can I ask the Minister in view of the changes in the political leadership whether there is prospect for improved relations between Singapore and Vietnam?

CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF VIETNAM - (Effect on Cambodian issue) Sir, I think it is a bit too early to say what the prospects are. If, as I said, the leadership changes result in some concrete moves in finding a solution to the Cambodian problem, obviously the stage will be set for better relations between Singapore and Vietnam.

AYER RAJAH ROAD/CLEMENTI ROAD/PASIR PANJANG ROAD/COMMONWEALTH AVENUE WEST - (Progress of road works) asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will report on the progress of the road works that run concurrently at (i) Ayer Rajah Road, (ii) Clementi Road, (iii) Pasir Panjang Road and (iv) Commonwealth Avenue West; and (b) whether pedestrian overhead bridges will be built and safety measures taken to minimize accidents along these new expressways.

AYER RAJAH ROAD/CLEMENTI ROAD/PASIR PANJANG ROAD/COMMONWEALTH AVENUE WEST - (Progress of road works) Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister. Sir, the PWD is upgrading Ayer Rajah Road and Upper Ayer Rajah Road to form part of the Ayer Rajah Expressway. Ayer Rajah Road extends from Alexandra Road to Clementi Road. The PWD expects to complete this stretch of road by the end of 1987. The upgrading of the stretch of Upper Ayer Road from Clementi Road to Jurong Town Hall Road will be completed by the first quarter of 1988. Sir, the widening of Clementi Road from Ayer Rajah Road to West Coast Highway is about 60% completed. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 1987. The widening of Pasir Panjang Road was completed on 11th March 1987. The widening of Commonwealth Avenue West between Jalan Lempeng and Jurong East Street 11 started on the 16th February 1987 and will be completed by November 1987. Of the four roads mentioned, only Ayer Rajah Road will be upgraded to an expressway. The others are major arterial roads. The following safety measures have been taken to minimize accidents along this expressway: (1) Provision of 13 pedestrian overhead bridges and an underpass for pedestrian safety. (2) Installation of vehicular impact guardrails along the sides of the expressway to prevent vehicles from running off the expressway; and (3) Provision of prominent lane markings and adequate directional road signs to guide motorists.

HDB RENTAL BLOCKS - (Demolition and Redevelopment) asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the progress of the programme to demolish Housing and Development Board rental apartments with high vacancies; (b) what are the problems encountered; and (c) when will the land recovered under this programme be developed and what will be the nature of the proposed development.

HDB RENTAL BLOCKS - (Demolition and Redevelopment) Sir, the exercise to relocate tenants in rental blocks commenced in November 1986. Tenants in 369 blocks have been notified of the relocation exercise. The 369 blocks consist of 40,168 units, of which 25,059 are occupied. As at 11th March 1987, a total of 5,835 affected tenants have registered to purchase home ownership flats whereas 6,064 tenants have registered to rent another flat. Of the 11,899 cases registered, 3,467 tenants have already been allocated alternative flats, out of which 1,043 in sold flats and 2,424 in rental flats. Sir, the blocks will be demolished progressively as and when all tenants in the blocks have been rehoused. Sir, at present the HDB has not experienced any major problems in the relocation exercise as there are sufficient rental and home ownership flats to meet the demand from tenants affected by the exercise. When the land recovered under this programme reaches a sizeable parcel, it will be redeveloped. The general objective of the redevelopment, Sir, is to upgrade the old estates to approximate current standards. The land could be used to build better flats or other facilities for the old estates.

YIO CHU KANG ROAD TO ANG MO KIO BUS INTERCHANGE - (Direct of bus service) asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd will consider providing a direct bus service from Yio Chu Kang Road near Seletar Hills Estate to Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange.

YIO CHU KANG ROAD TO ANG MO KIO BUS INTERCHANGE - (Direct of bus service) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, I have asked SBS to consider the hon. Member's suggestion. In addition, I have asked SBS to brief the Member and his community leaders on future services relevant to his constituency with a view to improving bus services in general.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES ALONG EXPRESSWAYS - (Conversion into emergency telephones) asked the Minister for National Development whether all the public telephones along expressways have been removed for the sake of road safety and whether they will be substituted by hot lines linking directly to the Police and the Fire Brigade for emergency use.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES ALONG EXPRESSWAYS - (Conversion into emergency telephones) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, emergency telephones are a necessity along expressways for motorists in distress to seek assistance. It is also a standard provision along such roads in the developed countries. In Singapore, public telephones were installed for motorists to use as emergency telephones. But motorists are using them for personal and business calls. On the average, 66 calls per day are made from each telephone. Vehicles stopping along the expressways pose a hazard to other road users. In the first six months of 1986, there were nine cases of serious accidents attributable to the use of public telephones along expressways. The Public Works Department together with the Police and Telecoms is looking into the conversion of these public telephones to emergency telephones which only allow calls for help to the Police, Fire Service and towing companies.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE "TEH CHEANG WAN AFFAIR" - (Statement by the Second Minister for Law) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Members will recall that at our sitting on 4th March, the Member for Potong Pasir asked the Prime Minister "whether he will call a public inquiry to get to the bottom of (what he termed) the Teh Cheang Wan affair and to make recommendations to prevent further corruption at high places." The Prime Minister said that the Government is ready to have a public inquiry into any matter of public interest so that there can be no question of any cover-up. The Prime Minister repeatedly asked the Member to spell out the terms of reference. It was only after the lunch adjournment that the Member read out his proposed terms, although he said that he had it all the time since that morning. The Prime Minister pointed out that the terms were ambiguous and suggested that the Member refine them. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister said he was prepared to accept the draft as it was and to gazette it because he would not stop any inquiry. In reply, the Member insisted that "as far as the substance of this reference goes, (that is, the reference of the inquiry that he wanted) it stays." The Member also requested that there should be three commissioners instead of one. In response to the Prime Minister's question whether he would lead evidence on the terms requested by him, he said: '... not only I will lead in evidence but I have certainly people who are willing to assist me in that area.' And this was noted by the Prime Minister when he said: '... as he said he would lead evidence and he will bring people to bring evidence. So be it.' The Member's final words on the terms were: 'I wish to have these terms of reference written out in a form that is accepted under the Inquiry Commissions Act.' In deference to the Member's stated desire to recast his terms in an acceptable form, the Government waited for his redraft. On the morning of 23rd March, I asked the Member whether he had a redraft or if his terms read out in the House on 4th March were final. He asked for time, and at about 6.00 pm that day he handed me his revised terms of reference. I now wish to inform the House that the President has appointed a Commission of Inquiry consisting of three members as proposed by the Member. The Chairman of the Commission will be Judicial Commissioner, Mr Chan Sek Keong, and the other two members will be Mr Robert Iau Kuo Kwong and Mr Thai Chee Ken. The full text of the instrument of appointment signed by the President will be gazetted soon and is now circulated for the information of hon. Members. I shall request the Clerk to kindly distribute the said instrument. [Copies of instrument distributed to hon. Members]. Sir, this instrument reproduces the revised terms of reference submitted by the Member for Potong Pasir in their entirety as terms of reference No.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE "TEH CHEANG WAN AFFAIR" - (Statement by the Second Minister for Law) Mr Deputy Speaker, I must say that the Government do get things done very quickly. My final terms of reference, I believe, were given to the Minister not yesterday but on the 23rd March, and we have here before us the terms of reference in its proper form under the hand of the President. This is the first time I have seen these terms which include the first term of reference which I was unaware of. The reason why I wanted the Prime Minister to call for a public inquiry is because the former Minister has died and there is public interest on the matter. People are talking about it and it is only proper that the Government should let matters be open for the public to see and get their satisfaction, as I said, to the bottom of the matter. I have not for once accused the Government of cover- up and I hope the Minister will not bring to bear that I was casting any doubts or aspersions or innuendoes on the Government in regard to cover-up. We are also investigating whether or not the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has done their job properly. I did not say they did not do their job properly. We have to go into that area which is quite separate. In fact, I think it is a completely different issue from what I originally had in mind. What I had in mind was only in matters related to the late Minister for National Development. But, nevertheless, since this has already been given under the hand of the President, I do not think we are in a position now to withdraw this first term of reference. That is in regard to the CPIB. Of course, we have got the terms of reference before us and I would certainly be writing to the Minister very soon in regard to what is known as the "getting up of the matter" which is no small matter, and the Prime Minister has already given his assurance that all files will be available, and not only available to me and my friends but also we have to go back again to have, maybe, a second look at the files. Also, we would require time to look into these files, adequate time. We do not want it to be a rush job. Certainly we would also require the Government to provide us with the details, maybe an officer of the Police or somebody who has got experience in investigative work with powers to subpoena for bank accounts of persons whom we would like to see. These are essential parts of investigative work. The other thing is, of course, lawyers are busy people and it is a practice that if their time is taken from their work to do this public service, I think they should be adequately remunerated. I believe there are provisions for this. Perhaps Members are unaware but there is already precedent set on this matter. Perhaps some of the first generation guards, the old guards in this House, will tell you that. Of course, the composition of the Commissioners has already been decided for us. We note that Mr Chan Sek Keong and two other lay members who are not connected with the Judiciary are acting as Commissioners. These are some of the matters we would be referring to in the letter that I will be sending to the Minister. The other thing is that it has been stressed that I will be leading evidence. Although the word used is that I will be leading evidence but it is not necessarily so that I shall always be at the stand. There will be other people who will also be leading evidence together with me. I must make that clear, it is not I alone, and for the next 10 days or 20 days, whatever it is, the time that is required in this public inquiry, I will be all the time at the stand. So I must make this clear - that there will be other people who will also be leading evidence. I would like to also make it clear to this House that if there are any matters which are necessary for us to get evidence, then I hope the Minister will make them available to us and there should be no quibbling as regards time or how we would like to view the files or whether or not we could go back again to view these files. Thank you, Sir.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE "TEH CHEANG WAN AFFAIR" - (Statement by the Second Minister for Law) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I may touch on the points raised by the Member for Potong Pasir. He commented on the first term of reference. I have explained the reasons why this first term is necessary. I have referred to certain statements that he had made which to any reasonable person reading those statements must imply that the CPIB was less than thorough in its investigations. I am glad to hear him this morning that he did not intend to say that the CPIB did not investigate properly. But I take it that he does not object to this additional term because the Instrument of Appointment incorporates all that he wanted and the Commission's terms of reference will not exclude whatever he wanted. The Instrument includes his terms and more, which is necessary for the reasons I have given. Second, Sir, he has said that he will be writing to me with various requests. I think it is important to establish one point - that once the Commission of Inquiry has been established, it then is created and has its own life and momentum and the Executive does not interfere with the way the Commission of Inquiry goes about its business. What powers it has are spelt out in the Inquiry Commissions Act (Chapter 48). I will refer him to the provisions and he will note that the Commission has considerable powers of investigation, summoning of witnesses, production of documents, etc. So the requests which he envisages to direct at me, in fact, should be directed to the Secretary of the Commission and, when the Commission meets, to the Commissioners themselves, if he finds that his requests have not been adequately dealt with. That is an important point. We have established the Commission. It will be gazetted and thereafter it gets on with the job. The Executive, the Minister for Law, does not give special directions to the Commission and, indeed, it would be improper. He has said that he hopes that there will not be a rush job, that time will be required. I think this is understandable. Again, this will depend on the Commis- sion. There are certain preliminary matters which will have to be done. There will have to be an advertisement, a public advertisement calling for members of the public who have information or representations to make on any of the terms to submit their views within a specified time, and this will be done. I am sure the Commission will organize its sittings in such a way that all the preliminary work which has to be done and perhaps even requests by the Member for Potong Pasir for whatever information that he needs is obtained by him before they begin to sit. I assume that this will be so. As far as the Government is concerned, we also do not want this to be a rush job and the Commission should take its time with all the preliminary matters before they conduct their public sittings. He has asked for help by the Police. He hopes the Police will help us - by "us" I take it that he means the Commission of Inquiry. If he will look at the Instrument of Appointment, under the hand of the President, the last page, the Commissioner of Police is directed "to detail police officers to attend upon the Commission for the purpose of preserving order ..., to serve summonses ... perform such ... duties as the Commission may direct." Then he expressed the hope that the lawyers being busy people, those lawyers I take it from the private sector, I take it including himself, who will be involved in the Commission's proceedings, will be given adequate remuneration. Here, too, Sir, I would like to point out this is not something within my authority to decide. I will refer him to section 7(g) of the Inquiry Commissions Act where the Commissioners have the power to award any person who has attended any meeting of the Commissioners, including interpreters and so forth, such sums as in the opinion of the Commissioners may have been reasonably incurred by him by reason of such attendance. Of course, I do not know how the Commissioners will exercise their discretion. It is up to the Member for Potong Pasir to make a submission to the Commission and it is up to the Commission to exercise its discretion. I understand that in recent Commissions of Inquiry, like the Hotel New World, some of the people in the private sector who gave expert evidence and testimony did not claim any monetary compensation and, perhaps, their view was that they were doing a public service. But it is not for me to tell the Member and his colleagues from the legal profession who are going to help him, whether they should forgo this monetary compensation on a matter of such public interest which, he says, exists in this matter. Then he said in Parliament that although he has undertaken to lead evidence, he will not always be there - this is something we must leave to him - and that there will be others leading evidence, that he cannot be in the stand all the time. Well, I take it that if he leads evidence, he need not necessarily be in the stand. There is a difference between leading evidence and giving evidence. I am not sure whether there is a confusion here. We have understood him to say that on these terms, on his terms, he will lead in evidence and that he will bring others to give evidence. Quite frankly, I cannot see everybody wanting to lead evidence, but this must be something that we should have to leave to the Commission because, once the Commission is established, they are the masters of their procedure. But, no doubt, I am sure they will take note of the preamble paragraph in the Instrument which notes that the Member in this House had undertaken to lead in evidence. I think I have covered the points, Sir.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE "TEH CHEANG WAN AFFAIR" - (Statement by the Second Minister for Law) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is an important document and, as I said, this is the first time I am seeing it this morning and there is a new term of reference and, of course, I am caught by surprise; an element of surprise is there. But, nevertheless, I will go along with it on this part of the evidence. But I suppose the Government will be leading evidence on the first reference. [Interruption] Yes. The Minister has referred to the Act. If we look at the Act, in fact, this public inquiry is basically the Government's job, not private members of the public. I think it is in the Government's interests to inquire on any matter that has got public interest. I am putting myself, in fact, to do some of the job which the Government should have done in the first place. As regards remuneration, I am not concerned about myself whether I am paid or not, that makes no difference to me. But I am concerned more with the friends who will be helping me. They are busy people, they have got a practice, a professional practice of their own. I think it is only fair that they should be at least compensated for the time taken. In this kind of work, it is not just attendance on the Inquiry day itself but there is a lot of background work needed and I am sure the Minister realizes that. There will be plenty of time that will be taken off from their work. So I do not think the Minister should make this payment into an issue. As regards the advertisement, I think this is necessary to notify members of the public to come forward and give any evidence which they have. But I hope that before this advertisement is inserted, I will be consulted in regard to how it is worded because, of course, we already have this advertisement in mind. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, since the Minister has said that he is not involved in this matter since the Commission has been involved, I hope that I will be hearing from the Secretary of the Commission very soon on this matter.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE "TEH CHEANG WAN AFFAIR" - (Statement by the Second Minister for Law) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I may join in the debate here. Sir, as I understand the issue, the question of the Commission of Inquiry did not arise from any Member of the Government; but as a result of the suggestion or the proposal by the Member for Potong Pasir, we now have this Commission of Inquiry. And as I understand it, it is going to take time, it is going to involve a lot of people, so a lot of public money is going to be involved in the process. I was glad to hear that the Member for Potong Pasir is indifferent whether he is going to be paid or not. Sir, we all recognize that, as Members of Parliament elected by the people to represent the interests of the people, we ought to give of ourselves to the public. We are paid an allowance for that purpose and, therefore, if we choose to raise matters concerning public interest, there is no reason why we should expect additional payment. What I would like is an undertaking from the Member for Potong Pasir that he will gladly give his services free. In other words, even if the money is offered to him for his time and services, he will refrain from taking it.